Clamp plate for railway rails



1942. e. w. MULLER 2,291,743

CLAMP PLATE FOR RAILWAY RAILS Filed July 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l v- Man m GEORGE IMMULLER Aug. 4, 1942. G. w. MULLER CLAMP PLATE FOR RAILWAXBAILS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1940 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V CLAMP PLATE FOR. RAILWAY RAILS George W. Muller, Miami, Fla

Application July 23, 1940, Serial No. 347,051

Claims.

This invention relates to a railway clamp plate.

More particularly, the invention relates to a yieldable clamp plate for use with railway rails and standard tie plates and spikes for yieldably retaining the rails in position and preventing loosening of the spikes and tie plates upon vibration of a track structure as occasioned by trains moving thereover.

Different forms of railway rail clamp plates have heretofore been proposed, and while such forms retained the rails in position to a marked degree of efiiciency, they were so disposed in connection with the rails, tie plates, and spikes that the spikes gradually drew out of the ties as a result of track vibration and the tie plates became loose which resulted in impaired efilciency of the clamp plates.

This objection to the forms of clamp plates heretofore used or proposed was due to the fact that they were so assembled in rail retaining position that they ofiered a direct vertical reaction on the spike heads and upon repeated flexing of the clamp plates as occasioned by wave motion in the rails the rigid spikes were gradually forced upwardly in opposition totheir purchase in the ties.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of yieldable rail retaining clamp plates for operative association with rails, and standard tie plates and spikes whereby the above noted objections to former types of rail retaining clamp plates is substantially overcome.

A further object of the invention is the provision of yieldable clamp plates for use with railway rails and standard tie plates and securing spikes therefor, whereby the rails are effective- 1y retained against creeping while permitted wave motion and the spikes are effectively retained from withdrawal during such wave motion or as may otherwise be effected by track vibration as occasioned by rolling stock moving thereover.

' A still further object of the invention isthe provision of yieldable clamp plates for use with railway rails and standard tie plates and securing spikes therefor which in operative position provide a combined vertical and horizontal yieldable reaction on the rail flanges for retaining the rails in position and also a horizontal yieldable reaction on the shanks of the spikes for urging same against the tie plate openings to prevent withdrawal of the spikes and maintain the tie plates in firm contact with the ties.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a yieldable rail retaining clamp plate of the above referred to character which consists of a single spring steel plate whereby it is of utmost simplicity and can thereby be manu factured and installed at relatively low cost.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference will be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a rail retaining spring plate or arm constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

. Figure 2 is a transverse section of portions of a railway rail, tie, and tie plate together with the complete-retaining means comprising a spike operatively engaged with the spring plate or arm and partially driven into the tie.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the spike fully driven into the tie with the spring plate or arm in rail retaining position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view disclosing a modified form of spring plate or arm.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5-with the spike omitted.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 disclosing a still further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is also a similar view, disclosing a still further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 disclosing a still further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 9 with the spike omitted.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of portions of a rail and tie plate disclosinga further form of rail retaining spring plate or arm in position for rail and tie plate showing a further form of spring plate or arm.

Figure 18 is a view showing a portion of a rail in transverse section, a tie plate in edge elevation, and the arm of Figure 17 in operatively secured position.

Figure 19 is a side elevational view of a fur-.

ther form of rail retaining means.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by the use of reference characters, and referring first to Figures 1 to 4, R designates a railway rail, T a tie, P a tie plate, and S a spike, these elements being of the usual and well known construction, with the tie plate provided with spike receiving apertures adjacent to and remote from the rail flange edge. The element forming the essence of the invention is a clamp plate or arm designated as C. This plate or arm is constructed of good quality spring steel of predetermined width, thickness, and length.

The plate is formed from a single piece of steel and is bent adjacent one end thereof as at ill providing a lower relatively short arm H and a substantially longer upper arm II, the arms respectively diverging downwardly and upwardly with respect to the horizontal and providing a U -shaped mouth therebetween.

The arms II and I2 are provided with verti-' cally alined square apertures l3 and H respectively adjacent the bend for receiving the shank of the spike S. The arm [2 beyond the aperture I4 is reversely bent providing an upward bow or arch l5 and a downward bow or arch l6 adjacent the free end of the arm.

The initial application of the clamp plate C is illustrated in Figure 2 wherein the spike S has been entered through the apertures 13 and I4 and partially driven into the tie T with the free end of arm i2 just about to engage the upper surface of the rail flange.

It is to be noted that the spike shank adjacent the spike head tapers upwardly slightly and the apertures l3 and I4 are of such dimensions that the spike shank closely engages the walls thereof when driven into position and furthermore the initial curvature of arm I2 in the upward bow I5 is in conformity with the bottom curvature of the spike head when the spike is fully driven in as illustrated in Figure 3.

It is to be further noted that the spike S is driven through the tie plate aperture a distant from the rail flange and the arm I2 is of such length as to engage the top of the rail flange at its free end.

This provides a relatively long spring arm and due to the provision of the reverse bowed portions l5 and IS the arm is put under substantial stress when the spike is fully driven in as illus-' trated in Figure 3 with the result that the spring plate C will react on both the rail flange and the spike shank adjacent the head thereof.

Inconsidering the positions of the spike S in Figures 2 and 3 it is to be observed that at each successive hammer impact on the spike head the spring arm I! will be successively put under greater stress until the spike is fully driven in when the arm M will have approached more nearly a straight line in upwardly inclined position as indicated in Figure 3. It is to be noted that the bend I0 is in substantially horizontal alinement with the top of the rail flange when the arm l2 initially engages same as represented by the line L in Figure 2 and that the bend is substantially below such line in the operative position of the clamp plate as indicated in Fig .ure 3. a

The clamp plate C will pivot about the spike shank and the internal stress in arm l2 will exert a substantial vertical pressure on the rail flange and due to the slope of the flange there will exist a substantial horizontal component of pressure against the spike shank which will not only retain the plate and spike shank in flrm engagement but will also force the spike shank against the outer wall of the tie plate aperture a thereby urging the tie plate against the tie and holding the spike yieldably against any possible withdrawal from the tie.

Thus it should readily be appreciated that the improved spring clamp plate C in operative association with a standard rail, tie plate, and spike not only efllciently holds the rail in position against creeping with proper provision for wave motion but also holds all three elements in permanent relative position.

The form of clamping plate 0' according to Figures 5 and 6 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 4 in that it includes a lower short arm II and an upper long arm in which is provided with the reverse bows or archeslie and Ila. In this form however the arms I! and l!- are substantially in contact and the spike receiving apertures have their walls of an angle to'correspending edges of the plate as indicated by the aperture Ila in Figure 6. The reason for such disposition of the apertures is to dispose the clamp plates at an angle to the adjacent rail flange edges, the free end of arm l2a being slightly twisted for uniform bearing engagement with the tapered top wall of the rail flange.

This form of clamp plate is especially advantageous for use in one-way trafllc as the plates will more firmly grip the rail and prevent same from creeping.

The opposed pairs of plates could of course be alternately set in opposite directions with rails for two way traflic whereby creeping in both directions would be positively precluded.

In Figure 7 is disclosed a form of spring clamping plate C similar to that of Figures 1 to 4 but differs therefrom to the extent that there is provided a single spike aperture H, the plate being bent at ill for providing a short extension or lower arm l'lb whose extremity engages the adja'cent side of the spike.

This form of clamping plate will function similarly to that of Figures 1 to 4 in retaining the elements R, P, and S- in position. v

According to the embodiment of plate C disclosed in Figure 8, same is bent at ll providing a lower short arm llc which is terminally engaged with the bottom of the upper long retaining arm I! thereby providing a double thickness of metal, each of which is provided with a spike aperture. The arm l2 is similarly bent to that of Figures 1 to 4. and will function in substantially the same manner when the spike S is driven into the tie.

The spring .plate C according to the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is identical with'the plate C of Figure 8 with the exception that same is slit adjacent its free end and the metal between the slit and one side of the plate bent down providing a rail flange edge engaging lug l8, for engagement within a tie plate aperture a adjacent the rail flange.

Thus with this form of spring clampingplate the rail flange is yieldably engaged both at its upper surface and at its edge whereby it is effectively retained against creeping or lateraldisplacement. The free end of the main body portion or arm I2d will effect a combined vertical and lateral pressure on the rail flange and the lug I?! will eifect alateral pressure against the edge of the rail flange and these cooperating pressures will effectively retain the rail in position while permitting wave motion therein. This form of plate will also function as the plate C of Figures 1 to 4 in reacting against the spike S and thereby holding same against the outer wall of the tie plate aperture 11 for preventing withdrawal of the spike as may otherwise occur from the wave motion of the rail.

The spring clamping plate C in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 11 is preferably bent at its spike engaging end and provided with alined spike shank apertures, the upper one of which is designated Ma. The apertures are angularly disposed similarly to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 but are disposed for reception of the spike in a tie plate aperture remote from the rail flange.

This form of clamping platelike that of Figures 5 and 6 is adapted for positioning oblique to the edge of the rail flange for more effectively preventing creeping.

The free end of the upper arm l2e, which is preferably reversely bent as in Figures 1 to 4, is slit as at l9 and bent down to provide a lug 20 for engaging the edge of the rail flange adjacent an edge of the tie plate P.

. This form of spring clamping plate will accordingly possess the combined advantages of the plates of Figures 5, 6, 9 and 10 in that it is angularly disposed to more effectively prevent creeping and by the provision of the lug 20 the rail flange is yieldably engaged both at its edge and upper face whereby it is effectively yieldably retained in position and the spike is also retained in position as in the embodiments previously described.

The clamping plate C in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 12 is normally flat and The late C is bent over at one end thereof providing a yieldable rail flange engaging arm 23 which engages the top of the rail flange at an angle to the edge thereof, the other end of the plate is bent downwardly as at 26 and is laterally bent at the extremity as indicated at 25 in conformity with and for seating engagement on the head of the spike S.

The plate is provided with an aperture 25 intermediate its ends for receiving the threaded end of a compression bolt 21, the opposite end of which is provided with a shoulder 28 for engagement beneath the tie plate P adjacent a wall of the aperture a. It isto be noted that the lateral dimension of the lower end of the bolt including the shoulder 28 does not exceed the width of aperture a whereby the bolt can be initially entered therein.

The compression bolt 2? is retained in position will react on the head of the spike S and yieldtapers from the spike engaging end to the rail flange engaging end. This plate is provided with an aperture for receiving the spike S and as the spike is driven into the tie the plate will flex or become upwardly concave whereby reacting against the rail flange as well as the spike for retaining same in position with provision for vibration and wave motion in the rail.

of a spike S having a shank off-set at its upper The clamping plate C in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 13 is identical with that of Figure 12 with the exception that a portion of the thin end is bent down or up as indicated at 2| and 22 respectively for engagement with the edge of the rail flange, the portions or lugs 2| or 22 extending within a tie plate aperture ably urge the spike shank into engagement with the outer wall of the outer tie plate aperture a for effectively preventing withdrawal of the spike. The retaining means according to Figures 1'7 and 18 includes a spring clamping plate C which is constructed of a single'piece of spring steel. The plate is upwardly bowed or arched in side view and includes a wrist portion 3! for engaging the tie plate behind the spike S and laterally opposed fingers 32 for engaging the rail flange at longitudinally spaced points and may include a thirdrail flange engaging finger as represented by dotted lines at 33.

The plate C is'provided with an aperture 34 for receiving a compression bolt 34 similar to the bolt 21 in Figure 14 which is retained in position by means of a spike 35. A nut 36 threaded on the upper end of the bolt 34 serves to adjustably compress the spring plate C 14, 15 and 16, the two or three finger grip on the rail flange will however, more effectively prevent the rail from creeping.

Furthermore the wrist portion 3| will yieldably react-on the shank of spike S and prevent withdrawal thereof from the tie plate and tie.

The embodiment according to Figure 19 in-.

cludes a spring clamping plate 0 similar to that of Figure 8 but is retained in position by meansend.

It is to be particularly noted that, while I have disclosed several embodiments of my invention, the general principle of operation is common to all thereof. The rail retaining means in all forms disclosed, except for Figures 14 to 18 includes only the simple single piece steel plates in addition tothe parts commonin railway construction, and these plates are of marked simplicity and as they are constructed of high grade spring steel, they will retain their efllciency for an indefinite period of time.

The clamping plates in all forms disclosed except for Figures 17 and 18 engage only the rail This retaining. means will function similarly to that of Figures flanges and spikes and as the plates are deformed upon driving the spikes into the ties they exert a combined vertical and horizontal spring reaction on the rail flanges as well as a horizontal reaction on the spike shanks thereby having a dual function of effectively retaining the rails in position and preventing withdrawal of the spikes.

While in Figures 1'] and 18 the clamping plate engages the tie plate it still reacts horizontally on the spike shank and in common with the other forms retains the spike in tie plate retaining position.

In short, the improved simple sheet steel clamping plates in accordance with this invention serve to yieldably retain all the standard elements of a railway track construction in operative position whileproviding for vibration and wave motion in the-rails as occasioned by rolling stock passing over the rails.

While only certain specific embodiments oi the invention are disclosed, such are to be considered as illustrative, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being deflned in the subjoined claims.

What I. claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a railway rail supported on a tie plate having apertures therein adjacent to and remote from the flange of the rail, and a track spike extending through the remote aperture and into a tie; a yieldable clamp plate having one end resting on the top wall of the rail flange and the other end engaged with the head of the spike, and means engaged with the clamp plate and extending through the adjacent aperture for tensioning the clamp plate.

2. Thestructure according to claim 1 wherein the second end of the clamp plate is transversely arched and engages the top of the spike head in conformation therewith.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the second end of the clamp plate engages the tie plate and reacts horizontally against a side of the spike head.

4. A yieldable rail retaining clamp plate hav-- ing one end thereof formed to engage a rail flange and the other end thereof arcuate in cross section for seating engagement on the oval top of a standard track spike head and means intermediate said ends for securing said clampplate to a tie plate and for tensioning same between said rail flange and track spike head.

5. A yieldable rail retaining clamp plate according to claim 4 wherein said rail flange engaging end comprises a short arm disposed below the main body portion of the clamp plate and extending toward the other end of the clamp plate.

8. In combination with a railway rail suported on a-tie plate having apertures adjacent to and distant from the adjacent edge of a rail flange. and a track spike extending through the distant aperture andinto a tie for securing the tie plate in position; a yieldable clamp plate having one end thereof resting on the top of the spike head and the opposite end thereof resting on the rail flange, a compression bolt having a shank engaged in the adjacent tie plate aperture and with its threaded portion extending through the clamping plate intermediate the ends thereof, and a nut on the compression bolt engaged with the top of the clamping plate for adjustably compressing same.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the compression bolt shank is enlarged at its lower end defining a shoulder for engaging the lower side of the tie plate, and a spike in said adjacent aperture for retaining said shoulder in tie plate engaging position.

8. In combination with a railway rail supported on a tie plate and a track spike extending through an aperture in the tie plate distant from the rail: a yieldable clamp plate having one end thereof engaged with the rail flange and the other end thereof resting on top of the head of the track spike, and means extending through the clamp plate intermediate its ends and engaged with the tie plate for imposing downward pressure on the clamp plate for yieldably gripping the rail flange and holding thespike down.

9. In combination with a railway rail supported on a tie plate and a headed track spike extending through an aperture in the tie plate remote from the adjacent rail flange; an elongated yieldable' clamp plate having one end thereof engaging the rail flange and the other end thereof engaging the top of the track spike head, and adjustable means interconnecting the tie plate and intermediate portion of the clamp plate for tensioning the plate with resultant reaction of the ends thereof on the rail flange and spike head.

10. In combination with a railway rail supported on a tie plate and a track spike extending through an aperture in. the tie plate remote from the rail flange, a yieldable clamp plate having one end thereof engaging the rail flange and the other end thereof engaging the top of the track spike head, and tensioning means securing the clamp plate to the tie plate, the rail flange and track spike, said tensioning means comprising adjustable means extending through tllietglamp plate and another aperture in the tie P GEORGE W. MULLER. 

